The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-02
The Christian Church versus th"
Theatcr.

[hriSiian Nciyh60r.
Rev. w. \. Gambler preached 4 SER
mon Oct. 9, in Mckendrce Church,
Nashville, giving the reasons why the
Methodist Church forbids her people
attending the thcater. At the close OF
the sermon Miss Emma Abbott, an
actress, rose in the congregation, and
at some length disputed the positions
taken in the discourse. After she sat
down Mr.. Gambler said, ~ will not
undertake to reply to the lady, a. she
is a lady, but such performance Is
more suited to the the theatcr than 10
Gods house." Following this there
was a ripple of applause in the congre-
CATION, not before.
The sermon appeared next morning
in the american, accompanied by
some incorrect statements from the
editor. He was requested to explain
his remarks. This he did in a lame
and unsatisfactory way. From tins
"leiting out watern there went out
streams kilograms from the Amcri-
can office all over the country giving
i'm some particulars false reports as to
what We're the facts in the affair.
1t seems clear that the AmcrIcdn
champicned Miss Abbott and the
theater as it appears it was its interest
to do so, the president of the american
firm or company being also a large
stakeholder in the Theater Nendome
where Miss Abbott played and also
the president of the race course near
Nashville.
The readiness with which many
secular papers throughout the country,
published the Amcricdns version OF
the affair showed their sympathy with
Emma Abbott and the theater anu
their apparent enjoyment OF an OPP
portunity to give the pulpit 4 hom-
lily on morals and proprietics! But
those journals are somewhat eNcusa-
BILE for the meaning Of what they print
ed since the original source of their
information was from the Amcrlcnn.
AS might be expected this scene has
brought out the forces of the theater
and that of the church in battle ar
ray in Nashville and elsewhere as well.
The editor of Nashville AdrOcdtc, the
official Board of McKendree Church
with Bishop McTyeire at their back
stand up and speak in no uncertain
sound in declarations and resolutions
i'm support and defence of Methodism.
ISee Nashville AdUocate of Oct. ~.
In the meantime the theatre forces,
we trow, are not idle. There is no
telling how newspaper battle will
end, men are so prone to extremes and
to lose the trail after the true, the
right and the good and fall into side
issues and personalities.
In the present discussion and con-
fusion let all who feel confident OF
being in the right treat the opposing
party with fairness in argument and
with due respect in demeGnor. TO do
otherwise is indicative Of weak
cause, or q weak mind, or wrong
spirit, or perchance all three.
I'VE presume that the interest in the
Gambler Abbott or Church-theater
question leaves but narrow strip
Of neutral ground for the go-hetweens
to stand on. An "eminent divine"
however, publishes in that same
american a letter in which he was a
little less hard OH Mr.. Gambler than
Miss Abbott thought the preacher was
hard on her, or rather on her profcs-
sion. The editor of the Americdn re-
luSeu 10 give MI. StHtiCi N'iS
of said divine. The trail being pur-
sued and becoming "warm," rs hunt
ers say, Rev. d. &. Kelly, ID. D.. comes
out and acknowledges himself to be
the author of the letter which was s"
offensive to his Methodist brother
Gambler.
Let it be taken for granted that the
preacher, the actress, the eminent
divine" and all the rest on both sides,
believe they are right-and what?
Nothing. only that their several be-
liefs are the results of accepted teach
ings concerning the moral character
of the theater. Now let each one test
his or her standard of r!g!:t-beiirt-
by the teachingof the Christian Scrip
lures, which is the only infa!lihle
rule and the one by which all beliefs
as well as all works shall be tried OF
what sort they are in "that day" "a
tree is known by its fruit" Refusal
to come to this test is proof of prefer
ence for darkness rather than light.